Mr Raymundo Soberanis > Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC > Mexico City, Mexico > Lawyer Profile

The bankruptcy and restructuring practice at full-service firm Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC handles domestic and cross-border bankruptcy litigation and out-of-court restructuring for secured and unsecured creditors, debtors, investors and directors. Practice co-head Diego Sierra is experienced in contentious bankruptcy matters and is dual-qualified to practice in both Mexico and the United States; alongside him, Jessika Rocha represents debtors and creditors in bankruptcy proceedings and advises clients facing bankruptcy on preventative commercial strategies; and Raymundo Soberanis undertakes litigation in both domestic and international courts. At associate level, Alejandro Gonzalez and Gustavo Vaca are the names to note.

The practice group at Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC specialises above all in the conversion of ejidos into private property, as well as property acquisition, development, management, leasing, financing and litigation. The 13-strong team is co-directed by Pablo Saez, who has extensive M&A experience and is active on social property and urban development matters; and Alejandro Orellana, who advises domestic and foreign developers, lenders, and investors in connection with real estate-related regulatory issues. Raymundo Soberanis and Ariel Garfio are additional partner-level contacts. The practice was strengthened with the March 2023 hire of Rodrigo de los Ríos, formerly a partner at Ibarra, del Paso y Gallego, as counsel.

Energy generators, service providers, developers, financial institutions, suppliers and off-takers are all among the companies that look to Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC for advice on transactions, financings and disputes, among other matters. As part a full-service firm, the practice can offer clients support through the life-cycle of a project or business operation in Mexico; indeed, the team has advised on a sizeable share of the renewable energy projects in the country over recent years. Leading the practice, Edmond Frederic Grieger is an experienced name in the Mexican energy market and works across energy and environmental matters, public bidding process, and administrative litigation. Ariel Garfio has a broad focus on the power, mining, and oil and gas sectors; while Luis Burgueño has advised on major transactions as well as guiding multinationals through their compliance with Mexico’s energy sector regulations. Raymundo Soberanis is a key contact for contentious issues in the sector; and from a deep pool of associates, Victor Delgado has been especially active since joining from Mayer Brown Mexico, S.C. in June 2022.

Acting for a client base predominantly made up of foreign companies, Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC‘s practice in arbitration has an international focus and a standout selection of Japan-based clients. Alongside the dedicated international arbitration department that has established a leading position in the market, the firm also has arbitration expertise extending to other practice areas, fielding a large pool of associates and senior associates with arbitration training employed on a multi-practice basis. Another strength of the department is in disputes against government entities, in cases with commercial and administrative law components. The name of Claus von Wobeser carries a lot of weight in the Mexican arbitration market, his 40 years of experience proving invaluable to long-term and new clients alike. He co-leads the department with Adrián Magallanes, whose broad practice covers all forms of dispute resolution and a focus on energy and natural resources. Montserrat Manzano is another contact with complementary experience in the energy space, and Raymundo Soberanis is a specialist in public contracting procedures. Pablo Fautsch‘s arbitration practice includes a key role in the firm’s construction and infrastructure group, and Jessika Rocha is another young partner with a burgeoning international arbitration practice, especially in energy. Rodrigo Macín and Rodrigo Barradas are the most prominent associates in the department. Since publication, Barradas has been promoted to counsel – effective as of December 2023.

Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC is a well-established name in Mexico when it comes to resolving disputes, and while it is best renowned in arbitration, the firm houses a strong litigation team that can reliably assist clients with the gamut of cases. The practice continues to be engaged in long-running class actions whose conclusions will set precedents in their respective sectors. Other areas of strength include the representation of foreign clients operating in Mexico (especially Japan-based companies), and disputes against government entities where commercial law and administrative law are interlinked. Co-leading the practice: Adrián Magallanes stands out for his expertise in energy sector litigation; while Diego Sierra is noted for ESG and anti-corruption matters, alongside his broad litigation practice. Other key contacts in the team include Raymundo Soberanis, Jessika Rocha and Pablo Fautsch. At the senior associate level, Rodrigo Barradas has a broad dispute resolution practice and his litigation experience extends to all court levels in Mexico.

Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC continues to provide tier-leading counsel in the compliance space, with particular skill in anti-corruption matters. In addition, the practice’s expertise encompasses national and cross-border investigations, preventive advice, and criminal and civil litigation. A number of its attorneys are dual-qualified to practice law in both Mexico and New York, affording the bench a strong advantage in cross-border cases involving the United States. Team leader Diego Sierra is a standout leader in anticorruption matters; as well as remaining active on the firm’s most high-profile recent cases (such as TelevisaUnivision), he chairs the Anti-Corruption Commission of the International Chamber of Commerce Mexico. Partners Raymundo Soberanis and Pablo Fautsch undertake internal investigations, arbitration and litigation; while Enrique Riquelme – who was promoted to of counsel in January 2023 – is experienced in white-collar investigations and alternative dispute resolution methods. Since publication, the firm has further strengthened the practice with the hire of Ricardo Cacho – a former director general of procedural control at the Ministry of Finance (SHCP) – as counsel, effective March 2024.